‘Downton Abbey’ Prequel in the Works

“Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes says he’s planning a prequel to the hit British series, according to the BBC.

There’s much more to explore in the relationship between the Earl and Countess of Grantham, the characters played by Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, and Fellowes is writing a prequel about how they first met.

“I do actually have an idea of doing a prequel of the courtship of Robert and Cora, when all those American heiresses were arriving in London,” Fellowes said while speaking at the Bafta Screenwriters’ Lecture series.

“They had a slightly troubled courtship, because she was in love with him before they married, as we know, and he married her entirely for her money,” he continued. “I sort of feel there’s something quite nice in there because he’s a decent cove, and so he feels rather guilty about this which has affected their marriage beyond that.”

A pair of different actors will be cast as the younger Robert and Cora for the spin-off series, which would be broadcast after “Downton Abbey” ends.